Pinwheel register



Aug. 24., @1943. w. c. PFEIFFI-:R A 2,327,667 7 l P IN WHEEL REGISTER I original Filed Feb. s, 1941 ii' ,29 i' i' i i la? la: 32 12 ,23 les 12? 6 '25 .lgs I E s I 130 129 Infima@ wlLunM. C. PFHFFER kunnen.

iatentecl Aug. 24, 1943 narran stares it N 'i' PINWHEEL REGISTER William C. Pfeiffer, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Egry Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio (lriginal application February 6, 1941, Serial No.

Divided and this `application Novembei' 27, 1941, Serial No. 420,718

9 Claims.

the invention more particularly relates to a feed-V ing mechanism for such a machine.

It is an object of the invention to provide a paper feeding mechanism for amultiple copy form reproducing machine, wherein a plurality of needles are successively advanced into engagement with the paper webs passing through the machine for feeding the same therethrough.

It is another object of the invention to provide a needle feeding mechanism in a paper handling machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a needle feeding mechanism in a paper handling machine in combinationwith a form aligning mechanism, which form aligning mechanism functions when the needle feeding mechanism is out of engagement with the paper being fed through the machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a needle feeding apparatus for feeding `paper through a machine which is constructed and arranged as an endless belt.

It is another object of the invention toprovide an endless belt type of paper feeding apparatus for moving a plurality of adjacent paper webs through a machine, and which belt is constructed and arranged to release the paper Webs to permit realignment of the form faces printed upon the webs.

lt is another object of the invention to provide endless belt type feeding apparatus for moving paper through a machine which is adapted to feed the paper and to align the plurality of adjacent sheets while passing` through the machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide an autcgraphic register with a continuous belt feeding mechanism having a plurality of needles thereon for carrying adjacent paper webs through the register.

It is another object of the invention to provide an autographic register in accordance'with the foregoing object wherein theendless heit is provided with means for simultaneously engaging a plurality of paper webs passing through the machine to align the form faces printed thereon.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and from the drawing.

In the drawing: l

Figure i is a top plan `view of an ,autcgraphic register.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View of an autographic register showing the needle feeding and web aligning mechanism of this invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View, partiallyin 5 elevation, of a billing machine showing the feeding and aligning mechanism applied thereto for feeding the paper webs transversely of the machine. i

The feeding and aligning mechanism of this 'invention has been particularly applied to use upon an autographic register. However, it will be understood that the mechanism israpplicable t-o any paper handling machine wherein it is de- ;sirable to` provide accurate movement of a plu- 10 'rality ofpaper Webs through a machine without the necessity of placing numerous.perforationsv in the sheets or paper webs prior to the time of their insertion in the paper feeding or handling .machine. The apparatus of this invention is par- 204 ticularly adaptable for using the normal file holes provided in paper sheetsV lfor properly aligning the sheets when feeding the saine through a paper handling machine, `such as'an autographic register. I n The mechanism for aligning a plurality of adjacentwebs is arranged to engage the paper webs when the needle feeding mechanism is out of engagement with the paper webs. By arrangf'ing the aligning means in this manner the adja-` cent paper webs are free to move with respect to each other so that the aligning means can `shift the paper webs to bring the form faces thereof into proper register. In Figure 1 there' is shown an autographic register which is adapted to receve'the feeding and aligning mechanism of thisinvention.y The register consists of a case I0 having a pivoted cover I8. The cover i3 permits access to the :interior of the register for insertion and removal of suitable paper webs having printed form faces. The cover I8 has'a writing opening 26 below which a form face 2l of a paper web is adapted to be positioned. The paper' upon which the Anform face 21 is printed is preferably a conti-nuous web having repeat'fo'rm faces and is adapted to be fed through the register `hy the feeding means of this invention. An operating `handle 35 extends from the case i@ of the register and is adapted to operate the feeding mechanism '50 contained therein. A suitable stop pin 36 is mounted upon the case H3 in a mannerthat it can be reciprocated with respect to the case Ill to permit the operating handle 35 to move across the pin.` The stop pin 3-8 prevents the handle 35 from making more than one revolution, and

the operation of the handle 35 is so geared to the feeding mechanism contained within the case I that a predetermined length of web is ejected from the register upon each rotation of the handle 35. The amount of web ejected from the register equalsl one form face and the used form can be removed from the web by tearing the same therefrom across the tear olf edge 28.

In Figure 2 there is shown one form of a feeding and aligning mechanism for moving a plurality of adjacent paper Webs through an autographic register, such as that represented in Figure 1.

The autographic register of Figure 2 consists v of a case |01 having a cover ||2 pivotally carried upon the case I 51 by means of pivots H3 positioned on parallel opposite sides of the case |07. The lefthand edge ||l| of the top cover I2 is positioned closely adjacent a closure plate I secured to the case I0'|, but spaced therefrom to provide a slot through which the paper Webs can be ejected from the autographic register. A Writing opening 25a is provided in the top cover 2 and is positioned above a writing table |58 positioned below the top cover I|2 and secured to the case |07 by suitable brackets |75.

The case |07 has a compartment Ilii toreceive a pack of prefolded and adjacently positioned webswhich have been printed With suitable forms upon their faces. A compartment ITI receives one of the paper webs so that a copy of each of the forms used is retained in the autographic register. v

The prefolded pack of Webs, as shown in Figure 2, consists of 3 continu-ous webs, Sd, m and |I|. These webs have perforated file holes provided along one of the edges thereof and these file holes are used `to bring the form faces on these Webs into exact register when the same are being fed through the machine.

The feeding and aligning mechanisms consists of a pair of pulley Wheels |00 and II `carried upon parallel'shafts |02 and |03 respectively. A continuous belt |04 extends between the pulley Wheels |00 and 0|. The belt |04 carries needles |05 and an aligning pin |66. The feeding and aligning mechanism is suitably carried'with! in al case |01 in which the shafts |02 and |03 are mounted. The writing table |08 is positioned adjacent the under side of the belt ||l4,\ the belt |04 being arranged to ride across the top of the writing table |08 to carry the paper webs |09, IIE! and I|I across the same'.

The pulley Wheel |00 is suitably driven to l cause a single rotation of the belt liffl'whereby the paper Webs are advanced through the machine to eject a determined length thereof. The needles |05 engage and pierce the webs |09, Ill! and III after passing over the pulley wheel lili to Idraw the webs through the machine.

As will be noted in Figure 2 the aligning pin I 05 is provided ina portion of the belt |04 which does not carry needles |05. a-nd III have the holes in the edges thereof at spaced intervals which are adapted to be engaged by the aligning pin |05. The holes in the edge of the webs are perforated in the webs at the time of manufacture and are so arranged that when the printed forni faces upon'the webs are in proper register the holes in adjacent webs will be in exact register so that the file holes so provided can be used for the purpose of aligning adjacent form faces.'

To provide carbon sheets between the adja` cent paper webs |09, ||0 and III rolls of carbon The Webs. |09, Hf!" vthe same with the Writing table |58;

paper |6 are positioned with respect to the Webs |59, H5 `and III that the sheets will interleave between the webs, the carbon sheets or webs passing longitudinally through the machine with' the paper webs. The rolls of carbon paper i I5 are adapted to be frictionally secured to prevent normal rotation thereof when the paper webs |50, ||0 and |I| are fed through the machine, the paper webs sliding across the carbon Webs so that the carbo-n can be used for a plurality of copies. When the carbon becomes worn added friction may be applied between the adjacent paper webs by the operator placing his hand upon thesurface. of the webs to forcibly engage whereby the added friction will overcome the friction preventing the carbon rolls from rotating. In this manner fresh carbon can be advanced 'through the machine with the ejection of a unit length of paper web. f

The bottom or last'copy cf the web pack, namely, the paper web lili!l isretained within the casing |07 to preserve a copy of form used fromthewebs'IlIII. y

After a form has been filled inupcn the top web ||I it is then desired to move or feed the paper webs |65, ||0 and III through the machine to advance the next formface beneath the writing opening 26a. As shown in Figure 2, the feeding .and aligning mechanism of the invention is in a position wherein the aligning' pin |05 is in engagement with the Ele holes provided in the edge of the paper Webs |09, IIS and I I. The feeding needles |05 secured to the belt |04 are notl at this time in engagement withthe paper webs. Therefore, the aligningpin |56 can shift the Webs |59, ||0 and withrespect to one another to bring their form faces into properV register. When thepulley wheels |36 and I|JI are rotated the aligning pin will be moved toward the left, as viewed in Figure 2, vand the needles |05 will be moved to the right. l The needles will thus engage the paper Webs |89, ||0 and in a manner topierce the same for feeding the Webs l through the autographic register.

In FigureS lthere is shown the feeding and aligning mechanism of Figure v2 asy appliedto a transverse feed of the paper Webs within a bill-y ing machine. writer |20 is suitably carried upon the rods |2| and the rollers |22 for transverse vand longitudinal movement across the platen |23. A compartment |24 is provided for storage of a pre.- folded Web pack |25.

The feeding andV aligning mechanism of this y arrangement consists of pulley wheels |26 over which the belt |21 is' adapted to extend. The belt |27 is provided with a plurality of needles |28 over a portion of the belt surface while the f aligning pin |29 is carried within a free area |50 of the belt |21. 1

The web pack |25 is threaded thro-ugh a feed slot |3| in the platen |23, and extends transversely across the platen. into adjacent relation With the feeding and aligning mechanism. Guide plates |32 retain the web'pack |25 in adjacent relation with the belt |2'l in orderto'permit the needles |28 to pierce the vweb pack |25 for advancing the same transversely of the machine. The pulley wheels |25 are carried upon the shafts |53 being connected with a driving mechanism forcausing `an increment advance of the paper |25 through the machine.

The paper web |25 is provided with holes Vin the edges thereof at spacedintervals into which ln this arrangement the typei the aligning pin H25 is adapted to extend when in adjacent relation with the web pack E25 to bring adjacent webs of the web pack |25 into proper register as heretofore Ydescribed with regard to Figure 2. Y

The web pack heretofore referred to is of a type which consists of a plurality of webs loosely positioned adjacent each other. The individual webs forming the web pack kcan be fed to the machine as individual webs and collated in the machine, or can be arranged in a pre-foldedpack. In either instance the feeding and aligning mechanism heretofore described is arranged yto feed a definite increment of the web pack through the machine without requiring the necessity of any adherence between the adjacent webs. The aligning mechanism is arranged with respect to the feeding mechanism to correct any inco-rrect registry of adjacent webs brought about by shifting thereof while being fed Yby the feeding mechanism. Where individual webs, either fed individually into a machine or in a pre-folded pack form, are fed by a needle feeding mechanism there is a certain amount of slippage bet een the webs which requires correction at the end of each feeding operation. lThe mechanism of this invention thus releases the web pack from the needle feeding mechanism at the end of each feeding operation to permit an aligning pin to engage the web pack and correct the registry of adjacent form faces. It will thus be seen that the invention is not connned to a particular type of web pack but is applicable to any web pack wherein the individual adjacent webs are loosely positioned and are without adhesive means therebetween.

This application is a division of my ccpendina application, Serial No. 377,715, filed February 6, 1941, now Patent No. 2,305,988, dated Dec. 22,

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for producing a plurality of record forms having spaced perforations therein for aligning adjacent forms comprising a writing table, pulley means positioned adjacent opposite ends of said writing table, belt means esteudiner between said pulley means and across said writing table, said belt means having a portion of the length thereof not substantially greater than the length of said writing table provided with a plurality of needles, the remaining portion of the belt being free of needles, an aligning pin in the needle free length of said belt and disposed to engage the holes in adjacent forms to align the same when the needle free length of the belt is adjacent the record forms, said needles being disu posed upon said belt to pierce said forms to feed the same through said machine.

2. In a machine for producing multiple copies of a form from a plurality of adjacent webs having an aligning hole therein adjacent each form thereon at spaced intervals comprising, means for feeding the webs through the machine in aligned relation comprising a lineally movable feeding member having a portion of the surface thereof provided with a plurality of needles a needle free surface on said feeding member substantially equal to the lineal path of travel of said member when feeding a form through the machine, an aligning pin positioned in said free surface for engaging the aligning holes, said feeding member lineally feeding the webs by means of said needles and aligning the Webs by means of said aligning pin when said needles `are released from the webs. v

3,111 `a machine for producing a plurality of record forms upon continuous webs having periodically spaced aligning holes;V a writing table, an endless belt adapted to move adjacent to said table to feed record formsV thereover, a plurality of needles carried by a portion of the length of said belt for feeding a predetermined increment of length of the web across said table, said belt having a needle free length that is at least equal in length to the lineal path of the belt across said writing table.`

4l. An apparatus for feeding a paper web comprising a writing table, an endless belt positioned adjacent said table and movable in the direction of the length of said table, means for supporting and driving said belt, a plurality of needles carried by said belt and extending over a length thereof substantially equal to the length of the writing table, anda pin carried by said belt in that portion thereof that is needle free over a length substantially equal to the length of the lineal path of the belt across said writingtable.

5. An apparatus for feeding aV plurality" of paper webs having periodically spaced aligning holes therein comprising a writing table, an endless belt positioned adjacent said table and movable in the direction of the length of said table, means for supporting and driving said belt, a plurality of needles carried by said belt and eX- tending over a length thereof substantially equal to the length of the writing table, and a pin carried by said belt in that portion thereof that is needle free over a length substantially equal to the length of the lineal path of the belt across said writing table and positioned upon said belt with respect to said needles to engage a paper web immediately in advance of engagement of the web by said needles to align the webs prior to feeding thereof.

6. An apparatus for feeding and aligning a plurality of record forms comprising a table adapted to support a plurality of adjacent paper webs having the record forms printed thereon and an aligning perforation adjacent each form, an endless belt positioned adjacent the upper surface of said table, means for supporting and driving ,said belt, a plurality of needles carried by said belt;r and extending over a length thereof substantially equal to the length of the writing table for feeding a predetermined increment of length of the paper webs, and a pin carried by said belt in a portion thereof that is needle free over a length substantially equal to the length of the lineal path of the belt across said writing table for engaging the holes provided in the adjacent paper webs to shift the webs with respect to one another prior to engagement thereof by said needles and when moved by said pin.

7. An apparatus for feeding and aligning a plurality of record forms comprising a table adapted to support a plurality of adjacent paper webs having the record forms printed thereon and an aligning perforation adjacent each form,

an endless belt positioned adjacent the upper surface of said table, means for supporting and driving said belt, a plurality of needles carried by said belt and extending over a length thereof substantially equal to the length of the writing table for feeding a predetermined increment of the length of paper webs, and a pin carried by said belt in a portion thereof that is needle free over a length substantially equal to the length of the lineal path of the belt across said writing table for engaging the holes provided in the adjacent paper Webs to shift the Webs with respect to oneanother when moved by engagement with said pin, said needles engaging said Webs subsequent to the shifting thereof by said pin and releasing the Webs prior to the shifting thereof.

8. An autographie register comprising a casing, a compartmeml Within said casing for receiving a pack of pre-folded plural copy forms having an aligning hole in each form, a Writing table, means for supporting the plural webs of said pre-folded pack for directing the same in a plane of movement substantially parallel to the plane of said writing table, an endless belt positioned adjacent said table, means for supporting and driving said belt, a plurality of needles in a portion of the length of said belt for engaging the webs to move a predetermined increment thereof acro-ss said table, and a pin carried by said belt in a portion thereof that is needle free for a length that is at least equal to the length of the lineal path of the belt across the Writing table for engaging said holes to shift the Webs with respect to one another prior to engagement of said Webs by said needles.

y tioned adjacent said table, means for supporting and driving said belt, a plurality of needles in a portion of 'the length of said belt for engaging the webs to move a predetermined increment thereof across said table, and a pin carried by said belt in a portion thereof that is needle free for a length that is at least equal to the length of the lineal path of the belt across the Writing table for engaging said holes to shift the Webs with respect to one another prior to engagementV of the webs by said needles, said needles releasing the Webs prior to engagement of said Webs by the pin.

V/'ILLIAM C.`PFE]FFER. 

